‘Not the team they were’ – should winless Villa be worried?

Unai Emery has produced some unforgettable moments for Aston Villa fans after three successive European campaigns, a top-four finish followed by a place in the top six.

Despite only five games remaining in the current season, it is already obvious something is wrong.

Villa, who won the Champions League last year while defeating both Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich, is still struggling for goals.

After Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Sunderland, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson declared, “They look clunky, they don’t look fluid, and they are not the same team they were last year.

Simply put, Aston Villa is not clicking.

Robinson was present at Emery’s side’s game against newly promoted opponents at the Stadium of Light after Reinildo was dismissed for kicking out at Matty Cash. The game lasted for more than an hour with 10 men.

Through Cash’s 25-yard finish in the 67th minute, Villa took the lead, but even then, they were unable to hold onto the lead. Wilson Isidor equalized eight minutes later to give the Black Cats a respectable point.

Emery’s third full season in charge has started badly.

Why have Villa’s goals dried up after scoring 134 goals in their previous two campaigns to place fourth and sixth?

After failing to score in their first four league games, Cash’s venomous shot that swerved before hitting the net kept Sunderland up and running.

Only Crystal Palace and Newcastle United had to wait longer in 2017-18 and 2005-06 to get their first league goal before the campaign started, with the run ending in 427 minutes.

Robinson remarked, “They haven’t created much, but they have got the first league goal off their backs.” They also played in midfield a little slow, pedestrian.

Given that they played the majority of the game against ten players, Villa only managed two attempts on target at Sunderland.

No Premier League team has this season produced fewer shots on target than Villa (12-level with Everton and Leeds).

Ollie Watkins and Dutchman Donyell Malen both had excellent chances to win in the closing moments, but the England forward now has just one goal in ten league games.

Watkins scored 16 times in the top flight in the previous campaign on the same pitch.

Emery remarked, “We need to get our style, control our style, and play better. Then will come goals and assists, ” “says he.”

Villa will have to balance the demands of hosting matches on Thursday and Sunday before starting their Europa League campaign at home against Bologna.

Due to their inability to advance to the Champions League during the summer, restrictions were put in place to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

The attacking department’s depth of quality has also been impacted by the signings of Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford.

Evann Guessand, a striker from Nice, was acquired for £26 million plus £4.3 million in add-ons, but the Ivory Coast international has only attempted two times on target.

We were not playing with our identity, Emery said, “but it should be easier to dominate and take advantage after playing 11 against 10,” Emery said.

More so because we aren’t defining who we are and playing the football we’ve always been successful with, I’m disappointed and frustrated.

The next two Premier League games have a good chance of starting Emery’s season, in terms of positive aspects.

Fulham and Burnley host Villa in back-to-home games on September 28 and October 5th.

Goalkeeper Cash told Sky Sports, “We’re not happy.

We must improve as a team. We need to be better with our standards given our level of quality.

We’ve had a lot of highs at the club over the past few years, and right now it’s getting a little difficult.

No one will have to feel the panic as Emery’s overall performance at Villa is unquestionable.

However, the Premier League still lacks patience and time.